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What is a TVSS?

A TVSS or Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor protects sensitive electronics from short duration, extreme voltage spikes. This protection is accomplished by clamping the voltage to a safe level before the equipment is destroyed. The excess current is diverted to the ground.

The most common cause of extreme voltage surges are nearby lightning strikes or the switching of large loads.

Don’t all UPS’s come with a TVSS?

One of the great myths or misunderstanding about UPS’s, is they will protect your equipment from a lightning strike or high energy electrical spike.

While this may be true for some small single phase units such as APC or Tripp Lite, the vast majority of medium to large 3 phase UPS provide no internal lightning or TVSS protection.

So while you think your large, expensive 3 phase UPS will protect you from a lightning strike, the truth is it may not.

As a result, it is highly recommended that you research and confirm that your UPS is protected by a TVSS at the panel feeding the input power to your UPS. You will need to protect both the rectifier and bypass inputs to the UPS.

TVSS Products

Several companies manufacture TVSS units.

PQ Protection

Schneider Electric

Raycap

MGC Surge Protection

One high quality company suitable for Data centers and three phase systems is PQ Protection. They have a wide range of sizes and features.